Sanhedrin - Caiaphas,

Creation date: 29-Jun-2020
Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathaea

Last updated: 9-Jul-2023
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 Sections

1 Summary 2 The Lesser Sanhedrin
3 The Greater Sanhedrin 4 Caiaphas
5 Nicodemus 6 Joseph of Arimathaea
7 How did Nicodemus and Joseph have burial requirements? 8 Pharisees and Sadducees

Summary

The Sanhedrin were the ruling rabbinical body of Israel, that lived in different cities of Israel and met in Jerusalem when required.  The spelling sometimes was written as Sanhedrim.

According to Biblical Scholars, there were two hierarchical classes of the Sanhedrin:

  1. The Great Sanhedrin
  2. The Lesser Sanhedrin

When there are references in the scriptures of the Sanhedrin, then it is always referring to the Great Sanhedrin.

The Lesser Sanhedrin

There were 23 Members of the Lesser Sanhedrin that were Judges who were appointed to serve in the cities of Israel

The Great Sanhedrin

The Great Sanhedrin, or commonly just known as the Sanhedrin, were the highest level of the Jewish legislative "court" for Israel.  The Sanhedrin had as many as 71 Sages that met on special and fixed occasions.  The group had two official leaders that were also often referred to as the High Priest.  There is a great deal of special activities and authority given to the Sanhedrin, which can be researched on the Internet.   

The High Priest of the Sanhedrin at the time of Jesus Christ's illegal trials in the middle of the night on 14 of Nissan is Caiaphas.  He was in charge and ruling over the trials that wrongfully accused and sentenced Jesus Christ to death, albeit it required the Romans to carry out the death sentence on the cross.  Caiaphas was in the office of the High Priest from roughly 18 AD to 36 AD.  His tenure had successful diplomatic relations with Pilate, who ruled for 10 years during the same period, and also with the Tetrarch Antipas who was the Governor of Galilee.

Caiaphas

The following is an excerpt from the Caiaphas topic:

Joseph Caiaphas, referenced in the Scriptures as Caiaphas, was the High Priest who had Jesus Christ arrested and brought to the Sanhedrin for standing trial.  In Hebrew his full name was Yosef Bar Kayafa which is translated as Joseph, son of Caiaphas.  He belonged to the Sadducees political party of the Sanhedrin.

Not much is known about the Sadducees.  There are critics of the written history of the Sadducees who claim the sources are biased.  What is proposed about the Sadducees is the following:

  • Founded in the 2nd Century B.C.E.
  • Known also as Zadokites or Tzedukim.
  • They did not necessarily believe in life after death.
  • Did not necessarily embrace the Pharisaic belief of a resurrection of the Dead to a life in Heaven.
  • They ceased to exists as a group after the destruction of the Temple in Israel around 70 AD.

Additional information sources concerning the Sanhedrin:

  • Josephus Flavius wrote that they were argumentative group with wealthy and powerful supporters. 
  • Josephus Flavius implied in his writing that they were sympathetic and collaborated with the Romans.
  • Scriptural passages in the New Testament Scriptures
  • Writings about Talmud Rabbinic Judaism, gives some hints concerning the Sadducees liberal views that became part of the reformation of Judaism without a Temple.

Nicodemus

Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin and a high ranking member.  The scriptures indicate by the actions of Nicodemus that he was a Believer in Jesus Christ unto Salvation.  There are three references of Nicodemus in the Book of John:

  1. John 3:1-2 - Visit after sundown
    Some Biblical Commentaries, have Nicodemus being secret about his belief in Jesus Christ where the visit with Jesus Christ after sundown (John 19:39) is characterized in the commentaries as Nicodemus afraid of being associated with Jesus Christ.  This is not necessarily true, as the time after the sun was no longer in the sky was a cooler temperature time that was taken advantage in the hot periods of the year to have social gatherings, meetings and business deals.  A man carrying a torch and walking by fires in the night would be easily seen just as it was with the Disciple Peter who denied Jesus Christ during the mock trials before the execution that Peter at a fire during during the night.
     
  2. John 7:5-53 - Defends Jesus Christ to Sanhedrin.  Do not condemn a man until hearing him.
    Those that were against Jesus Christ wanted to condemn Jesus Christ because they:
    (a) Misunderstood the scriptural references of the Messiah and where Jesus Christ was misunderstood to be originating from.
    (b) Did not like the popularity and message of Jesus Christ.
    (c) Believed Jesus Christ was not a prophet yet had not heard Jesus Christ's message and not seen the miracles.
    Nicodemus said to wait and not judge until hearing.
     
  3. John 19:38-42 - Was with Joseph of Arimathaea in burial of Jesus Christ
    In John 19:38-42, Nicodemus goes with Joseph of Arimathaea to prepare the body of Jesus Christ that was taken down from the Cross.  A key part of the passage was burial preparation that is discussed later in this topic.
John 3:1-2
Visit to learn about Salvation		 1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
John 7:50-53
Defends Jesus 		50 Nicodemus saith unto them (he that came to him before, being one of them), 51 Doth our law judge a man, except it first hear from himself and know what he doeth? 52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and see that out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. 53 And they went every man unto his own house:
John 19:38-42

Nicodemus and Joseph of Aimahaea prepare body of Jesus Christ

 38 And after these things Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked of Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took away his body. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, he who at the first came to him by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 So they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new tomb wherein was never man yet laid. 42 There then because of the Jews’ Preparation (for the tomb was nigh at hand) they laid Jesus.

Joseph of Arimathaea

Joseph of Arimathaea is referenced as a Disciple, meaning believer, in Jesus Christ.  Joseph was:

  1. A wealthy man, most likely a member of the Sanhedrin.
  2. Had enough political influence to be able to quickly have a meeting with the Roman Procreator Pilate after the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  The Roman Magistrate and guards would not allow anyone to easily come to meet with Pilate unless the person was well-known, respected and had political favor.
John 19:38-42 38 And after these things Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked of Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took away his body. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, he who at the first came to him by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 So they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new tomb wherein was never man yet laid. 42 There then because of the Jews’ Preparation (for the tomb was nigh at hand) they laid Jesus.

How did Nicodemus and Joseph have burial requirements?

There are a few Biblical Commentaries that mention a question that is not often discussed.  The question is how did Nicodemus have the 100 pounds of myrrh and aloes on the High Sabbath Day of Passover?  The myrrh and aloes are high valued and expensive where 100 pounds would have been kept in a secure location that also ensure the two ingredients would not be damaged.  Moving 100 pounds would also require assistance and most likely involved several people that would have been noticed in hours before sundown on 14 of Nissan.

Therefore, the conclusion and answer to the question of how did Nicodemus have the 100 pounds ready for the burial of Jesus Christ is because both Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea knew the scriptures prophecies and understood what Jesus Christ had said about the purpose of the death on the Cross.  Isaiah 53, Holy of Holies of the Old Testament, is one on many scriptural passages that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea would have known to understand Jesus Christ first mission on Earth.

The other interesting question is did Joseph of Arimathaea know the scripture of Isaiah 53:9 was being acted out and prophetically being achieved?  Maybe the answer is yes where the purpose of Joseph of Arimathaea was to have a place of dignity and love for Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 53:9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
John 19:38-42 38 And after these things Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked of Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took away his body. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, he who at the first came to him by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 So they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new tomb wherein was never man yet laid. 42 There then because of the Jews’ Preparation (for the tomb was nigh at hand) they laid Jesus.

Pharisees and Sadducees

The following is an excerpt from the topic on the Pharisees and Sadducees:

The Pharisees were part of the Sanhedrin and were considered "keepers of the Law" and maintained strict obedience to the Law written by Moses and other ritual laws written to aid in not to break the laws written by Moses.   More can read on this WIKI link.

Some specific points regarding the Pharisees:

  • Began approximately 167 BCE and dissolved after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
  • While there were Pharisees who confronted and argued with Jesus Christ, there were some that became believers in Jesus Christ.
  • Nicodemus, who became a believer in Jesus Christ, was a Pharisee.
  • Joseph of Arimathea, who was a Pharisee, became a disciple of Jesus Christ.
  • The scriptures indicate a number of Pharisees became believers in Jesus Christ.
  • Josephus, the historian, is believed to be a Pharisee.
The Sadducees were part of the Sanhedrin and were considered often to be the more financially influential, and more often in power in the Sanhedrin.  More can read on this WIKI link.

Some specific points regarding the Sadducees:

  • In the New Testament the Sadducees often were verbally assaulting Jesus Christ in attempts to discredit Jesus Christ as Rabi, Prophet, Messiah and ultimately as God. 
  • There are references about the Sadducees as not necessarily believing in Eternal Life after human death. 
  • They were considered liberal in ideas that did not reflect the strictness of the Law written by Moses, along with writing of other Prophets.
  • Their power and authority began in the second century BCE and lasted to the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD.  After the destruction, the group disbanded and no longer existed.
  • Caiaphas, the High-Priest, at the time of Jesus Christ was a member of the Sadducees.
  • The scriptures do not have any examples of a Sadducee believing in Jesus Christ.

This author has the theory that the Sadducees became the group in power based on their liberal philosophy that enabled a Sadducee to mingle with people in power and wealth while not being judgmental.

What to read next?

The Scepter Shall Not Depart Judah.  What is Salvation?  Is it possible to lose Salvation?  We have eternal life.  Evolution is not real.  When a Christian suffers is there benefits from it.  Rewards in heaven.  Do we Tithe?  What does the 3rd Commandment tell us?  What is Grace and Mercy?  Is there an Age of Accountability?  Is there a place of unending punishment and exile form God?